The History of Motor Vehicles

Description of Learning Unit:

In this unit, your child will explore motor vehicle travel in history and some important inventors and inventions. Additionally, your child will learn how motor vehicle travel progress affected life and business. This unit will be brought to life with fun activities--such as making stoplight cookies; creating a "then & now" automobile poster showing how they have changed; playing Red Light, Green Light; and making candy cars. Finally, to wrap up the unit, your child will create a transportation collage with timeline. This unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach history.

List of Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of how motor vehicle travel affected life and business.
• Learn about some of the inventors and inventions in vehicle history.
• Develop a timeline of motor vehicle progress.

List of Materials and Supplies Needed for This Pathway:

Links to Related Pathways (if any):

Links to Online Lessons:

Begin learning about the evolution of the car with the first invention, the steam-powered car. 

Read this brief outline of the history of the internal combustion engine and the inventors involved. 

Learn how the assembly line was invented to meet the growing demand for gas-powered cars. 

This lesson covers Henry Ford's $5.00/day revolution of the workforce when he doubled wages for auto workers. 

Reference Websites:

Read an in-depth biography of Henry Ford. 

Hands-On Projects and Activities:

Your child will enjoy this fun stoplight cookie snack. 

Involve all the members of your household in this fun automotive game. 

Use this activity to help your child assimilate what he or she has learned about historic automobiles by comparing them to their modern day companions.

Your child will create a fun race car from candy. 

Using the information at the link provided, you and your child will create and illustrate a timeline of motor vehicle history.

This fun snack car will teach your child about both automobile parts and eating healthy. 

Learning Tools (worksheets, drills, printables, online games, tests, etc.):

Have your child color this historic car and discuss the differences between this car and your family vehicle. 

Have your child color this modern day car loaded up with family vacationers. 

Have your child color this race car and discuss cars in modern sports. 

Have your child color this horse and buggy and review the differences cars have made on how people travel. 

Have your child color this modern city and discuss the differences cars have made between modern and historic cities. 

Free Online Video:

This video contains a brief history of Henry Ford's contributions to the Automotive Industry.

This video contains a pictorial history of the Ford Motor Company set to music.

Free Online Audio: 

Free E-Books (and classics available in most libraries):

List of any helpful books, games, toys, kits, lapbooks, curriculum, etc., that may be purchased to enhance the learning experience: